Veneer joining machine



- lfl 0 I O 70 4 /Z0\\ 77 7 i7 1 ar 60 f sm qgg 3 W57 l j I T a0 75 A? 5 1 l 56 M70 v I INVENTORS Faber 1441/74 07 BY 67 Mar h 13, 1945. k. w. IRWINET AL 7 ,331

VENEER JOINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 O/We/ as M Her M 'i" W ATTORNEYS.

March 13; 1945. R. w. IRWIN ETAL I VENEER JOINING MACHIN E Filed Dec. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS'. [PIf/f? /7. fie/j fiche/ 1% i Garza/mas ATTORNEY March 13; 1945. R. w. IRWIN ET AL 2,371,331

VENEER JOINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 III H I I" H I INVENTORS. fifo fleff flaw/77 0 me was a,"

ATTORNEYS.

March 13, 1945. R. w. mwm ET L 2,371,331

VENEER JOINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

- relatively short machine.

Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STATE-s TENT OFFICE A v Q i V I I Rapids, Irwin' Mich. said Herz ,assignor to said v Application'December 16, 1940, Serial No. 370,298 6 Claims. (Cl.144.--279) This invention relates to improvements in veener joining machines.- "This invention relates to machinery for joining pieces of veneer in edge abutting relationship. It has for itsobjects: I

First, to provide a new and improved machine of the class described. Second, to provide such a machine which may be used in joining the veneer pieces'together in edge abutting relationship without the use of t I Third, to provide such a machine which is compact and relatively inexpensive to manufac ture.- I

Fourth. to provide such a machine in which there are independently adjustable means for bringing the edges of the veneer into abutting-re Fifth, to provide sucha machine in which a plurality of bevel rollers areemployed for press-5 ing thepieces of veneer together, which rollers are independently adjustable so as to permit the desired pressure on the veneer pieces at all times during thepassage of the pieces of'veneer through the machine, 'whi c'hmakes it possible to use" a :'Sixth, to provide sucha machine which isa combination taping and splicing vmachine by means of which it is possible to apply glue be tween the abutting edges ofthe veneer while at the same time applying a tapeito the joint.

Seventh, to provide such a machine which may be used also as a taping machine as well as a splicing machine. h F (Eighth, to provide a machine which is easily andsimply adjusted to take veneers of various typesandsizes.

Ninth, to provide suchamachine with anew v and improved adhesive applicator.

. Tenth, to provide such a machine having a new and improved glue applying means which is adjustable completely to controlthe amount of glu applied to the edges of the'veneerso as to eliminate the formationxof glue ridges at the joints. 1 I

Eleventh, to provide such a'machine with an adhesive applicatorj which is extremely simple in construction. and which may be removeda'sja unit from themachine for cleaning or repairing with aminimum of effort.

Further objects and advantages pertaining details and economies ofconstruction and operation' will appeari from the description to follow. The inventionds defined in the claims. A preferredembodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is aside elevation-a1 view of a machine suitable for carrying out the new and improved process and embodying the-invention hereof.

' Fig.2 is'a detail sectional view of a portion of a machineshown-in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.4, showing the arrangement of the mechanism for feeding' th'e pieces of veneer'and for urgin'g them into contactin order'to assure adequate and quicksetting of: th adhesive.

' Fig. S-is a detail sectional -viewtaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. 1 --"*Fig.- 4 a" detail sectional 'viewtaken on the line14-4'of Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a detail-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is "a detail sectional view takenonthe line 6'6 of Figs; 2 and 3. I Fig.7 is a detail sectional view line of Figs. Sand 9.

i Fig. 8 is adetail-plan view taken on ofFig .7. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view-of-the-adjustable means for controllingthe amount or glue taken on the line 8 8 on line 99 of Fig; 8. 1 I

Fig. 10 is a detail view insection showing the arrangement of the *feedand bevel rolls for pressing the-edges-Qf'the pieces of veneer together -as'they areied and after the adhesive hasbeenapplied- 1 Fig- 11 is a detail view in section showing the adjustment for adjusting he tension of the bevel rollsabove'mentioned'p l 4 1 1 Thenew and improved machine consists of a suitable basei on which is mounted a table 2 to receive the pieces of veneer and above which isprovidedaheadil.

Disposed at one'endof the table is a guiding fin l'which extends above the-top of-the table and against which] the edges of the piece of veneer are placed before feeding tothe machine. Directly following this fin is the adhesive applying'me'cha'nism which is indicated generally at 5. This-mechanism consists of a--water bath containerffi which is fitted-in an aperture 1 in the table top I over which the slidableremovable top 'sections 8= extendi- Tliese top sections are thermostatically controlled electric heating unitwhich keeps the water IS in the container 6,

at the desired temperature.

Fitted within the container li is the glue container H which has projecting flanges 4-8 which rest on shoulders IS on the upper portion of the inner walls of the container 6. The container,

I'I extends down into the water bath H5 in the container 6 so that the glue therein will be kept attire-desired temperature. Thedisk-ip which projects above the table top to apply -adhesive to the edges-tof the pieces of yeneer is mounted on a, shaft 24 whichis journaled trans: versely'of the container l1 and has a project- :end with a ,gear 22 fixed thereon which engages an idler gear 23 driven b y the gear 23l on shaft 43. The.idler gear 23 is journaledron the shaft] I sothat the-drive from gear 23! to gear 2; willremain intact-when the container 5, the supported iglue pot f" andthe shaft .24 of thedisk -.l0 are adjusted vertically by the pivotal movement or the container 6 around the ha tx z e I V. ,A never, having a slot 25 which fits over the disk; H) .is hinged on the pin .26 on the container 6 so that it can be swung from the ;position shown in 18 upwardly after-removal of the removable top sections 8 which :slide .in ways 21-3toa pesition iiQ DBrmitthe-container all with the disk ill, the shaft 2!, and the-gear .22 .to be lifted bodily ut of the centainer 6 for cleanin or repair. The gear 22 maybe easily disengaged from .the gear 23, By pivoting the container 6 and the supported glue potandgluesapplying disk around the shaft ,ll biz means of the lever 12, it is possible to adjust themrojection of the disk illabove the .table top to=control -the amount-of glue applied to the veneers as they pass and con-7 tact 1thesides of the -disk 11.0.. Therdiskis, raised togincrease-thelamountpf glueapplied. 13113136181 ;.to ;further regulate the amount of, glue applied by the disk 40 which is provided with aseries ofperforations 28 which .pick up the glue :2!) rromcthe container 1-1, .weprovide adiustable wiper members illimounted on the cover 24,-. ;Ihese .membershavethe Wiping edges .30 which lie parallel with the faces of the disk and are provided withways 3| in which they slide and inwhich theyareadiHSted-by means of righhand left hand screws 32 which are provided with suitable spanner .adjustmentifl. These screws engagenuts 33lvsecured at-332 to levers 33Irrvhich are provided at 334 and have heads335 engag ing the wiper members 29. Theposit on 0f make sure that when the pieces ofveneer are urged together in edge abutting relationship, there will be no ridge of glue formed at the joint.

In operation the disk I I] is rotated at a speed either faster or slower than the speed of the veneer a'nd in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, so as to give a wiping action to spread the glue on the edges of the pieces of veneer. e

' Extending diagonally downwardly from the edge of the container II where it is anchored "with a screw 35 is a baflie 36 which is slotted at-37 to f t over the disk ID. This bafile tends to clear glue from the disk in and to prevent it from piling up against the cover 24 of the glu- "ing mechanism;-

The means for feeding the veneer consist of a pairzof .driven knurled rolls 40 mounted below the table but with their circumferences substantially flush with the top thereof and in a position to engage the veneer as itpasses thereover and also over rolls 4! and 42 similarly located below the table. The rolls 40 are driven by suitable drive shaft means 43. a

In the head 3 are further knurled driving rolls 44, and and 46 which are provided with sprock-. ets 41 connected by chains 48. The drive for these rolls consistsof a-shaft-Ml provided with a suitable universal joint connection 50 to the roll 44.

Mounted above the rolls 40 are a pair of toedin rolls .5! which are journaled on shafts 52 in blocks 5.3 which are, vertically slidable in ways 54 and are provided with rods 55 extending therefrom through apertures 55 where their heads are squared at 5.1 to permit adjustment. Springs 58 surrounding the rods 55resilientlyurge the blocks downwardly to provide a yielding or resilient mounting for the rollers 5|. These rollers are adjusted. to engage thepiecesof veneer 34 and to hold .them against the rolls r40 for feeding. Similarlymounted rolls 59 and 60 cooperate respectively with vthe rolls 4;! and 42.

Beneath the table and disposed generally beneath the feed rolls 44, :45 and 4B are enemies of bevel vrollsl'ii, 62 and 83 .whose beveled faces arleknurled to .engagethe veneer pieces 34. The beveled iaces of these mus lie substantially the plane o'fthe table top :2 and the rolls are mounted on oblique shafts 64 .in slidable blocks 55 so as to resiliently urge the veneer against the rolls 4'4, '45 and 4B throughthe action of compression springsGG which are engagedby adjustafble ta ppets Blwhose lower ends .68 are tapped to receive screws"li9. The upward force of the rolls'fi'l; B2- and G3'may'be adjusted icy-lengthening or shortening the "tappet 67 by screwing the screw-69in 'or out of the tapped openings in their ends-68. V K

Below the table there is provided an adjustment for simultaneously controlling the tension of "the-Tonsil, 62"and-63 after 'their individual tensions havebeen balanced and adjusted. These consist of a series of levers Ill mounted on shafts which have levers 8-l on theendsthereof which are interconnected' by a link8 2. 'Ononeof-the shafts 8D, we-provide a lever 83 for simultaneouslyturning allofthe shafts and we provide .a segment 84 for this lever, the end 85 of which :is easily accessible for -ad-justment a-t the frontzof the machine.

The tension exerted on the rolls BI, 62 and against the .veneer and thence against the -rolls 44,:=l4i :and Afi is .a factor in :determining the amountcof apressurezexerted my the rolls to force supporting member 90.

the pieces of veneer together. The adjustment can be made by adjusting the tappets 6'! as above,

described and after the desired adjustment'is'ob tained for individual rolls, the tension on all of the rolls may be simultaneously increased or decreased by making use of the lever83.

To adjust the beveled rolls 6|, 62 and 63'independently longitudinally of the table in order to also vary the force with which they force the pieces of veneer 34 together, each set of these rolls 6|, 62 and 63 is mounted in a supporting member 86 which has projecting fins 8'I slidable in ways 88. The supporting member 86 may be anchored in, adjusted position by means of set screws 89 which bear against the fin 81 to clamp them. When the rolls GI, 62 and 63 are disposed directly below the rolls 44, 45 and 46, they exert practically no force tending to forc the pieces of veneer together, but if the beveled rolls 6 I, 62 and 63, or any of them, are moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, they will exert more force to press the pieces of veneer together. The amount of force depends upon the relative positioning of the rolls BI, 62 and 63 to the right as viewed in this Fig. 2.

In order to make the machine suitable either for a tapeless joiner or for the use of veneer tape,

means for raising the rolls 44 and 45 independently oi the roll 46 are provided and for also rais-' ing the roll 46. We mount rolls 44 and 45 on a vertically movable supporting member 90 and the. rolls 46 are mounted on a similarly vertical mov-i able member 9I.v These members 90 and 9I are slidably supported by the head 3 iorindependent' vertical movement. Pins 92 extend through the member 90 and pins 93 extend through the member 9| and their ends project and engage respec-v tively cam slots 94 and 95 in the slides96 which are slidable longitudinally of the machine by means of'a lever 91 pivoted to the slides 96 at 98 by means of a slot 99 and to a fixed support I00. An operating rod IIII extends to the front of the machine from a pivotal connection I02 at the free the right as viewed in Fig. 2, the supporting mem-' bers 90 and 9I are raised to the position shown'in' Fig. 2. By moving the operating rod IOI to the right, the slides 96 are moved to the left. The cam slots 94 are provided with dwells I03 so that during the first part of the movement of the slide 96 to the left, there is no change in position of the The cam slots 95 slant down in such a way, however, that during the early part of the movement of the slides 96 to the left, the supporting member 9I moves downwardly and the downward movement is completed be-' fore any downward movement of the supporting member 90, which is retained by the dwells I03 in the position shown in Fig. 2. 7

When the machine is in this position'with the roll 46 down in position to cooperate with the beveled roll 63, the machine may be used as a veneer taping machine. To make this possible, we provide a suitable mounting I04 for a roll I05 of veneer tape which passes through a suitable moistener or adhesive pot I06 and thence downwardly to the point of application to the veneer as in a conventional veneer taping machine.

In many instances, it is desirable to both tape and splice the veneer pieces to provide a tight both splicing and taping by'making use of the above described glue applying'disk and its'asso'-' ciated mechanism and at the same time making usesof ,the above described tape applying mech-- ing of the tape to expose the abutting edges of the pieces of veneer to glue applying means, afterwhich the piecesjoined by the tape were placed in the sameplane. The tape in this operation served as a hinge and also as means for holding the veneers together after the application of glue to the edges. This dual operation is eliminated. by the present machine and it can be carried out either with all of the rolls down in driving engagement, or with merely the first rolls down, as

described, when the machine is employed for applying tape alone to the pieces of veneer.

If itis desired to use the machine as a tapeless joiner, the slides 96 are moved completely to the left. Because of the downward slanting portion slots 95 serve to keep the roll 46 and its 'supportof the cam slots 94, the supporting member90 and the rolls 44 and 45 move down into position to cooperate with the beveled rolls 6 I and 62. During this final movement, the dwells m in the cam ing member 9'I in position to cooperate with the beveled roll 63.

In order to adjust the machine for different.

thicknesses of veneer, we provide adjusting means suitable foradjusting the position of rolls 44, 45 and 46 simultaneously or for adjusting the position of the roll 46 when the rolls 44 and 45 are raised. The slide 96 is supported between slides I08 and I09. which carry respectively inclined' cams I I0 and I I I which have the same angle but which incline in opposite directions. The cams I I0 and I I I engage respectively the inclined members II2 andI I3 which are mounted on the head 3 and which incline in opposite directions and hold the slides 96'p0sitively at the desired vertical adjustment.

In order to raise or lower the slides 96 and thereby adjust the elevation of the rollers 44, 45 and 46, the slides I08' and I09 are moved in opposite directions. When the slide I08 is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and the slide I09 to the right, the slides 96-are lowered and a reverse movement raises them. The slides I08 and I09 are actuated by a lever I I5 which is pivoted at H6 at a point equally spaced between the slides I08 and I09. At its upper end the lever II'5 carries a pivoted nut II! to engage a screw II8 which is rotatably mounted against axial movement in a pivoted bearing '9. The screw II8.is adjusted by a hand wheel I20 which is ends pivoted respectively at I25 and I26 to the a graduated plate 2I6 to indicate the degree of adjustment of the upper rolls above the table top for different thicknesses of veneer.

In operating the machine as a tapeless ve- 361, 62 and 63 and the rolls 5|, 59 and 60 areaiso on opposite sides of the fin I and are moved forwardly with their edges engaging opposite sides of the disk to which is revo'lving to spread the applied :glue, the amount of which is controlled .as above described by adjusting the edges 30 :of the wipers 29, and by adjusting the elevation of the disk 1'8. The pieces of veneer are moved forward past the disk 40 until they are engaged by the rolls 413' and 51' which then feed them forward. They arenext engaged by the rolls '46 and 63 followed bythe rolls 59- and ll,

ation because of the independent adjustment of the bevel rolls to vary the pressure exerted by them to force the pieces of veneer together. As

the pieces ofveneer enter the machine, they-are separated by the disk l0 so that they are con vergingly approaching one another. The fact thatthe pieces of veneer are converging toward one another causes them to tend to overlap when they meet. By providing the independently ad justable rolls fcrurging the pieces together, it is possible in a great measure to overcom ethis tendency toward overlapping since the pressure exerted by each set of rolls can be adjusted to such a point that the pieces of veneer are urged together with the greatest possible pressure, short of that which will cause overlapping, It is possible, because of this arrangement, .to provide a very compact machine with a minimum number of sets of rollers Spaced, a minimum distance apart. carried on very expeditiously with this machine, the size of which is at a minimum. The effect of this arrangement in the machine is thatofv varying. the angularity between the. pieces of veneer, so as toeliminatethe tendency to. overlap, which results from the converging of these pieces as they enterthe machine.

When it is desired to use the, machine as a.

veneer taping-machine, the slide 96;is moved to an intermediatev position so that the. crosspins 92rest-in the dwells 1 03 of, the cam. slots. 94 and the pins 93- in the dwells l0] ofthe cam .95.

When the slide. is in thisposition, the;rol1s.44

and,45 are raised and the roll 46 is loweredinto conventional taping, machines.-

travel, two pieces of veneer. can bejoined withla bond sufficiently strong to stand the handlingincident to commercial veneering operations; The machine is very compact and contains a few parts. For certain typesof veneer it maybe used as a taping machine, making, it unnecessary" to have both a tapeless joiner anda taping'machine. The machine may be easily adjusted and i may be controlled by the operatorfrom the front of the machine.

It is preferable in this machine to employ a glue which is kept liquid bythe'application of heat thereto and'when'such glue isemployed, the setting thereof can be expedited by the application of cold air through air--jets I21 whichare directed at the joint at spaces between The gluing, operation may be" s arper placed in cooperative relationship with the-lrbl-ls an, and 4-2. The pieces-234 o! venesr areplaueu the rollers. By such an arrangement, using chilled or refrigerated air, itispossible'to keep the leng-th ofthe' macnine at a minimum and to ex edite the gluing process.-

The terms and expressions which have been herein employed are used 'as terms of description'and not of limitation, and there is nointenti'on, in the use "of such terms "and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown anddesc'ribed, or portions thereof. It is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described ourinvention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. In an apparatus of the class described, a tableh'aving'a head thereabove, means at one-"end of the table for applying glue to the edges of veneers as they are fed beneath the head, a plurality of sets of beveled rolls disposed on inclined axes, the rollers of each'set having their beveled edges substantially in the plane of the table top to engage veneers as theypass beneath said head and to urge said veneers together, meansfor adjusting said sets of beveled rolls independently alongthe line of movement of said veneers, "and means forsimultaneously adj sting said beveled rolls vertically to increase thelr'pres. surea'g'ainst the bottom of the veneers as they are fed, lower feed rolls disposed between said beveled rolls along the lineof movement of said veneers, upper feed rolls mounted in said head and generally above said beveled rolls, and pressure rolls disposed on-saidhead abovesaid lower feed rolls and in'cooperative relationship thereon, and means for raising all the rolls in the head with certain of said rolls raised indepenjde ently of the first upperieed roll, and means on said head for supplying veneer tape to veneers as they pass beneath said first feed roll.

2, -In an apparatus of the class described, a table -having a head thereabove, means atone end of the table for applying glue .to the edges of veneers as they are-fed beneaththe head, a plurality of sets of beveled rolls disposed on inclined axes, the rollers of each set having their beveled edges substantially in the plane of the table top toengage veneers as theypassbeneath said head and to urge said veneers together,

meansfor adjusting said sets of beveled. rolls independently along'the line of movement of said veneers, means for adjustingsaid beveled rolls 'verticallyto increase their pressure against the 'bottomof-theveneers as they areied, lower feed .rolls d-isposedbetween said beveled rolls along the .line of movement ofsaid veneers, upper feedrolls mounted in said head and generally abovesaid beveled rolls, and pressure rolls disposed on said head above said-lower feed rolls and in'coopera- 'tive relationship thereto, means for raising all the rolls in 'the head with certain of said rolls :raised independently-of the first upperfeed roll, .andamean's-pn said head for supplying veneentape -to veneers as they pass beneath said first feed roll.

#3. "In an apparatus of the .class described, ::a tablehaving a head thereabove, means at one end 'of the table for applyingglue to the ed'ges-.of veneers as they -are fed beneath 'the head, a plurality of :sets of beveled rolls disposed on inclined axes, the rollers I of each set havingthelr.

beveled edges 'substantially in the plane of the table-'top to engage 'veneersas they pass beneath nsai'd head'ar-id to urge said veneers together,

means for adjusting said sets of beveled rolls independently along the line of movement of said veneers, and means for simultaneously adjustingsaid beveled rolls vertically to increase their pressure against the bottom of the veneers as they 4. In an apparatus of the class described, a I table having a head thereabove, a plurality of sets of beveled rolls disposed on inclined axes, the rollers of each set having their beveled edges sub stantially in the plane of the table top to engage veneers as they pass beneath said head and to urge said veneers together, means for adjusting said sets of beveled rolls independently along the line of movement of said veneers, and means for adjusting said beveled rolls vertically to increase their pressure against the bottom of the veneers as they are fed, upper feed rolls mounted in said head and generally above said beveled rolls, and means for raising all the rolls in the head with certain of said rolls raised independently of the first upper feed roll, and means on said head for supplying veneer tape to veneers as they pass beneath said firstfeed roll.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a table having a head thereabove, means for feeding veneers beneath said head and suitable for applying veneer tape to said veneers, means for supplying veneer tape to said feeding means, means at one end of the table to apply glue to the edges of the veneers as they are fed beneath said head, and feeding means beyond said first feeding means adapted to feed veneers and'force them together in edge abutting relationship, said last feeding means being adjustable independently of said first feeding means to be moved out of operative veneer engaging position.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a table having a head thereabove, means at one end of the table for applying glue to the edges of veneers as they are fed beneath the head comprising rotatable disk dipping in a gluepot and having means for raising and lowering said disk and for scraping the edges thereof, a plurality of sets of beveled rolls disposed on inclined axes and having their beveled edges substantially in the plane of the table top to engage veneers as they pass beneath said head and to urge said veneers together, means for adjusting said beveled rolls independently along the line of movement of said veneers, and means for simultaneously adjusting said beveled rolls vertically to increase their pressure against the bottom of the veneers as they are fed, lower feed rolls disposed between I said beveled rolls along the line of movement of said veneers, upper feed rolls mounted in said head and generally above said beveled rolls, and 

